Railway car side wall closure



June 4, 1957 A. J. PERNA ETAL 2,794,402

RA ILWAY CAR SIDE WALL CLOSURE I 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 25. 1953 i. v 3 I June 1957 A. J. PERNA EI'AL 2,794,402

RAILWAY CAR SIDE WALL CLOSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25. 1953 i i1: 5:: 1 C j C W w\ &h i

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l atented June 4, 1957 RAILWAY CAR SIDE WALL CLOSURE Angelo J. Perna, Park Forest, and William F. Dahlberg,

Chicago, 111., assignors to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application March 25, 1953, Serial No. 344,574

3 Claims. (Cl. 105--393) This invention relates to railway cars and is primarily concerned with an enclosure adapted to be mounted on a side wall of a railway car.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an enclosure on a side wall of a railway car in which the crew members can walk and attend to the contents of the car when there is a lack of walking space Within the car.

An important object of the invention is to provide an enclosure on a side wall of a railway car which has a plurality of sections movable from an out of the way position to an enclosure forming position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure on a side wall of a railway car which is comprised of a plurality of independently movable units.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure on a side wall of a railway car and comprised of three sections which are movable from an enclosure forming position to an out of the way position in which the first section is in a vertical plane through the side wall and below the side wall and the second section is in a vertical plane parallel to the plane through the side wall and the third section is in the vertical plane through the second section and above the second section.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure on a side wall of a railway car comprised of three sections, the distance between the pivot points of one section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of another section and the distance between the pivot points of the remaining section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of the first section.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an enclosure pivotally mounted on a side wall of a railway car which is comprised of a plurality of units movable from an out of the way position to enclosure forming position and arms pivotally connected to the side wall for supporting the units of the enclosure and sections pivotally connected to the side wall adapted to form ends for the enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable enclosure adapted to be mounted over an opening in a side wall of a railway car with filters so that the power equipment inside the car may receive an adequate amount of air for its operation.

' The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an exploded perspective view of a railway car with the roof sections raised to show the general structure of the car and showing the enclosures mounted on the side walls of the car;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one portion of the car showing several of the units of the enclosure in enclosure forming position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the car complemental to that shown in Fig. 2, showing several of the units of the enclosure in an out of the way position;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through one of the units of the enclosure showing the unit in an intermediate position;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The invention proposes an enclosure mounted on each side wall of a railway car to provide a catwalk in which the crew members can attend to the contents of the car where a lack of room within the car prevents the provision of space to walk. Each side wall is provided with an opening and its respective enclosure is disposed over the opening. Each enclosure comprises a plurality of units and each unit is comprised of a first section having one side pivotally connected to the adjacent side wall and a second section having one side pivotally connected to the other side of the first section and a third section pivotally connected to the other side of the second section adjacent to and spaced from one side of the third section and the other side of the third section pivotally connected to the side wall. Each unit of the enclosure is adapted to be moved from a folded position to a position forming a part of an enclosure and the first, second, and third sections of each unit are movable simultaneously from a folded position to a position forming a part of the enclosure. A pair of horizontally disposed spaced arms each have one end pivotally connected to the side wall of the car and are adapted to be moved from a position parallel to the adjacent side wall to a position at right angles to support the particular unit of the enclosure. A fourth section is positioned at each of the endmost units of the enclosure and has one side pivotally connected to the adjacent side wall and is adapted to be moved from a position parallel to the side wall to a position at right angles to form ends for the enclosure.

In the drawings, 16 designates a railway car having trucks 11, channel-shaped side sills 12, a floor 13, side walls 14, end walls 15 and a three-piece roof having end sections 16 and a center section 17.

Each side wall 14 is comprised of vertical framing members 18 and diagonal framing members 19 welded to each other and to the web of the adjacent side sill and a metal sheathing 20 is welded to these vertical and diagonal framing members. Side plates in the form of angles 21 are welded to the tops of the vertical and diagonal framing members 13 and 19 and another angle 22 is welded to each side plate so that the side plate and the angle 22 together are box-shaped in cross section. Spaced angles 23 extend across the width of the car and are disposed upon the horizontal flanges of the side plates and these angles are secured to the side plates by bolt and nut assemblies 24 in the area of the center roof portion 17 and are welded to the side plates in the area of the end roof portions 16. Carlines 25 hat-shaped in cross section are welded to the roof sheet and these carlines are in alignment with the vertical framing members 18 in the side walls and the carline adjacent each end wall is disposed directly over the tops of the two diagonal members 19 adjacent each end wall of the car. Channels 26 are disposed longitudinally of the end roof portions 16 and the center roof portion 17 and these channels are welded to the ends of the carlines on the respective roof portions. The end roof portions 16 and the center roof portion 17 are mounted upon the car by directing the channels 26 against the inner face of the vertical flange of the side plate so that they seat upon the adjacent angle 22 and by directing the side edge of the roof sheet against the outer face of the vertical flange or" the adjacent side plate and securing the roof sheet and the channel 26 to the vertical flange of the side plate by bolt and nut assemblies 27. The roof is made removable so that power equipment can be installed in the car and after the power equipment is installed in the car the space within the car is substantially completely occupied leaving no place for the crew members to walk and attend to the powerequipment.

r Each side wall 14 has a longitudinally extending opening 28 spaced from each end wall 15 and the vertical and V diagonal framing members 18 and 19 are exposed in the area of the opening. Each side wall 14 is provided with doorways between its opening 28 and the respective end wall 15 and a sliding door 29 is mounted in each doorway. A partition 39 is positioned adjacent each end wall 15 between the opposed openings 28 in the side walls and the respective opposed doorways in the side walls and is secured to the floor and the side walls. An enclosure is mounted on each side wall 14 and each enclosure is comprised of a plurality of units 31 disposed over the opening in each side wall. Each of the units 31 is comprised of a first section 32, a second section 33, and a third section 34. Each first section 32 is made up of a metal plate 35 and longitudinally extending spaced channels 36 welded to the bottom of the plate at its side edges and transversely extending spaced channels 37 welded to the bottom of the plate at locations spaced from its end'edges. Spaced projections are formed integral with the inner channel 36 and pins 38 extend through the adjacent projection and through the diagonal framing members 19 and the vertical framing members 13 at their point of intersection at the side sills to pivotally connect one side of the first section 32 to the adjacent side wall as best shown in Fig. 7. The second section 33 is made up of a rectangular framework 39 of angle section and two horizontally disposed spaced T-shaped members 40 extend across and are welded to the framework and removable filters 41 are carried by the framework and metal strips 42 extend between the framework and the T-shaped members and are welded to the framework and the T-shaped members to hold the filters in place. Spaced lugs project from the first section 32 and similar lugs project from the second section 33 and pins 43 extend through these lugs to pivotally connect one side of the second section to the other side of the first section. Each third section 34 is made up of a metal sheet 44 and spaced longitudinally extending angles 45 are provided and one of the angles is spaced from the adjacent side edge of the sheet and is welded to the bottom of the sheet and the other angle is welded to the bottom of the sheet at its other side edge and spaced angles 46 extend transversely of the sheet and are welded to the bottom of the sheet. Spaced lugs project from the framework of the second section 33 and similar lugs project from the adjacent angle 45 on the third section 34 and pins 47 extend through these lugs to pivotally connect the other side of the second section to the third section at a location adjacent to and spaced from one side of the third section. A hinge 48 extending the full length of the third section 34 is welded to the third section and to the vertical and diagonal framing members 18 and 19 thus pivotally connecting the other side of the third section to the side wall. A pair of horizontally disposed spaced arms 49 are positioned below each first section 32 of each unit 31 and these arms are mounted on the car by having a sleeve 50 welded to the outer face of the web of the adjacent side sill and a plate 51 welded to the bottom flange of the side sill and a bolt 52 projects through one end of the respective arm and the sleeve and the plate and a key extends through the free end of the bolt to keep the bolt from jumping out of place and being lost due to car impacts. Thus it will be seen that the sleeve 50 and the plate 51 and the bolt 52 pivotally connect one end of each arm 49 to the adjacent side sill. A fourth section 53 is positioned at each of the endmost units 31 and has one side pivotally connected to the adjacent side wall. A horizontally disposedv resilient Weatherstrip 54 is positioned at the hinged side of each third section and is secured to the section and the side wall.

Assun'lipg the enclosure is in the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the first section 32 is in a vertical plane through the side wall and below the side wall and the second section 33 is in a vertical plane parallel to the plane through the side wall and the third section 34 is in the vertical plane through the second section and above the second section. The enclosure is manually operated and to move it from the out of the way position of Fig. 4 closin g the side wall opening 28, to the enclosure forming position of Fig. 6 one of the crew members merely swings the first section 32 upwardly into a horizontal position and the second section 33 moves upwardly into an upright position and the third section swings upwardly into a position at an angle below the horizontal. It is to be noted that the first, second, and third sections 32, 33, and 34 of each unit move upwardly into enclosure forming position simultaneously to form a part of the enclosure. Then the crew member while holding the unit 31 in enclosure forming position swings the adjacent pair of arms 49 from a position parallel with the side sill to a position at right angles to the side sill under the respective first section to support the first section when it is in a horizontal position and it will be seen that this pair of arms supports the whole unit. The remaining units 31 are moved to enclosure forming position in the same manner. As soon as all units have been moved upwardly it will be seen that all of these units together form the enclosure. Each pair of fourth sections 53 are adapted to be swung from a position parallel to the side wall to a position at right angles to the side wallto form ends for the enclosure, thus the enclosure is closed at both ends.

To move the enclosure from enclosure forming position to inoperative position closing the side wall opening, the fourth sections 53 are swung to a position parallel to the adjacent side wall and the pair of arms 49 On each unit 31 are swung to a position parallel with the adjacent side sill and then the crew member lets the first section swing downwardly into vertical position below the floor 13 and the second section 33 moves downwardly into vertical position alongside the first section and the third section 34 swings downwardly into vertical position above the second section. The remaining units 31 are lowered in the same manner and each unit remains in this position when not in use.

The distance D3 between the pivot points of the third section 34 is greater than the distance D1 between the pivot points of the first section 32 and the distance D2 between the pivot points of the second section 33 is greater than the distance D3 between the pivot points of the third section as best shown in Fig. 5. This particular arrangement of distances between the pivot points of the sections 32, 33, and 34 provides smoothness of operation. By smoothness of operation it is meant that the particular distances between the pivot points causes the sections 32, 33, and 34 to fold down into a compact out of the way position in which the section 32 is below the side wall and in the plane of the side wall and the section 33 is in a plane parallel to the plane of the side wall and lies against the side wall and the section 34 is in the plane of the section 33 above the section 33 and lies against the side wall.

After the car is built a gas turbine and an electric generator and auxiliary units are lifted into the car by a crane. The auxiliary units are placed between the respective partition 30 and the respective end wall 15 of the car and the turbine and generator are placed in the central portion of the car between the partitions. Then the two end roof portions 16 and the center roof portion 17 are lifted onto the car and fastened to the car. After the turbine and the generator are installed in the car there is insufiicient space left within the car for the crew members to walk since this equipment must be started, stopped, maintained and repaired. By having an enclosure mounted on each side wall the crew members can walk on the floor of the enclosure formed by the plates 35 of the section 32 and can pass through the opening 28 and between the vertical and diagonal framing members 18 and 19 to repair or maintain the turbine or generator. The crew members enter the sliding doors 29 so as to maintain the auxiliary units. The enclosures are in enclosure forming position while the power equipment is in operation and the car is always stationary while the power equipment is in operation. The enclosures are in the vertical position while the power equipment is inoperative and the equipment is inoperative while the car is in transit and if necessary while the car is stationary. The filters 41 are provided in the enclosures so that the gas turbine will receive an adequate amount of clean air for its operation. This car is primarily for use in a particular locality where the power supply may have been cut off or damaged and whereupon this car could be coupled onto a passenger train or to any locomotive and pulled to the particular locality and the power equipment within the car could supply adequate electric power to that locality until such time that the stationary power installations of the locality could be restored to operation. The enclosure in the folded or out of the way position meets all A. A. R. clearance requirements. It is to be pointed out that the enclosures are applicable to other types of railway cars, for example, a car which carries a machine shop might need these enclosures.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided an enclosure mounted on a side wall of a car in communication with the interior of the car on which crew members can walk to attend to the contents of the car and which is formed of a plurality of sections movable simultaneously from position forming a side wall closure to an enclosure forming position providing a catwalk.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car, a side wall provided with an opening, an enclosure comprising a plurality of units disposed over the opening and each of the units comprising a first section having one side connected to the side wall for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a second section having one side connected to the other side of the first section for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a third section connected to the other side of the second section adjacent to and spaced from one side of the third section for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and the other side of the third section being connected to the side wall for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and the distance between the pivot points of the third section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of the first section and the distance between the pivot points of the second section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of the third section, the enclosure projecting outwardly of the plane of the side wall when in extended position, and means carried by the car for maintaining the enclosure in extended position.

2. In a railway car, a side sill, a side wall having framing members and provided with a longitudinally extending opening, an enclosure comprising a plurality of units disposed over the opening and each of the units comprising a first section having one side pivotally connected to the framing members and :a second section having one side pivotally connected to the other side of the first section and a third section pivotally connected to the other side of the second section adjacent to and spaced from one side of the third section and the other side of the third section being pivotally connected to the framing members, a fourth section positioned at each of the endmost units and having one side pivotally connected to the side wall and swinging from a position parallel to the side wall to a position at right angles to the side wall to form an end for the enclosure, the enclosure projecting outwardly of the plane of the side wall when in extended position, a pair of horizontally disposed spaced arms each having one end pivotally connected to the side sill positioned adjacent each first section and swinging from a position parallel with the side sill to a position at right angles to the side sill under the section to support the enclosure when in extended position, and a horizontally disposed resilient Weatherstrip positioned at said other side of each third section and secured to the respective third section and the side Wall.

3. In a railway car, side sills, a floor, a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls having framing members and each side wall being provided with a longitudinally extending opening spaced from each end wall and each side wall being provided with doorways between its opening and the respective end wall, a door mounted in each of the doorways, partitions connecting the side walls between the opposed openings and the respective opposed doorways, an enclosure comprising a plurality of units disposed over the opening in each side wall and each of the units comprising a first section having one side connected to the side wall framing members for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a second section having filters therein and having one side connected to the other side of the first section for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a third section connected to the other side of the second section adjacent to and spaced from one side of the third section for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and the other side of the third section being connected to the side wall framing members for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and the distance between the pivot points of the third section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of the first section and the distance between the pivot points of the second section being greater than the distance between the pivot points of the third section and the first section swinging downwardly into vertical position below the floor and the second section moving downwardly into vertical position alongside the first section and the third section swinging downwardly into vertical position above the second section when not in use and the first section swinging upwardly into horizontal position and the second section moving upwardly into upright position and the third section swinging upwardly into a position below the horizontal all at the same time to form a part of an enclosure, a fourth section positioned at each of the endmost units and having one side pivotally connected to the side wall and swinging from a position parallel to the side wall to a position at right angles to the side wall to form an end for the enclosure, a pair of horizontally disposed spaced arms each having one end pivotally connected to the side sill positioned adjacent each first section of each unit and swinging from a position parallel with the side sill to a position at right angles to the side sil-l under the respective first section to support same when the respective first section is in horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,965 Bierstadt May 12, 1896 2,112,101 Kliesrath Mar. 22, 1938 2,368,936 McGehee Feb. 6, 1945 2,656,216 Bobrofi Oct. 20, 1953 

